TEE FACE. 
The first volume of the Sydney Magazine op Science and Art is now before out 
subscribers. We trust they will allow that—considering the difficulties that must 
attend such an undertaking in a community where politics, professional occupations, 
or mercantile pursuits engross nearly the whole population—wc have fairly fulfilled 
the promises contained in our Prospectus. 
New South Wales can yet boast but few gentlemen of leisure who feel pride 
and interest in pursuing science for its own sake, and are ready to devote both 
time and money to its advancement. Such a class will doubtless arise, especially now 
that science is becoming fashionable under the auspices of our energetic and saga¬ 
cious Governor, Sir William Denison, to whom we beg to express our grateful 
acknowledgments for the enconragement lie has afforded us by his advice, his patronage 
and his contributions. 
To the members of the Philosophical Society of New South Wales and of the 
Horticultural Society we are also indebted for their patronage, and trust we have 
repaid the obligation by presenting them in a concise and convenient form with a 
record of their Transactions, which would otherwise have been buried in the columns 
of a daily newspaper. 
The Editor is quite conscious of numerous deficiencies in the plan and execu¬ 
tion of his work, and would avert the severity of criticism by the consideration that his 
efforts, feeble as they may have been, were sincerely intended for the advancement of the 
Colony, and that, but for this periodical, many valuable suggestions and much statistical 
information would have been lost to succeeding labourers in the same field. At any 
rate we have the satisfaction of knowing that many residents in the interior have 
derived valuable information from our pages, and have acknowledged their obligations 
in the local journals. • 
We are proud and happy to say that we have received promises of assistance from 
gentlemen interested in scientific pursuits uiio have not hitherto contributed to our 
columns, virile we hope to retain the support of those gentlemen who have so kindly 
helped us during the past year. 
It is only just to the enterprising Publisher to say, that at present, the Magazine 
has not paid the expense of its production. We appeal to the members of those 
Societies whose proceedings it records, and who are not already subscribers, to yield 
it a more liberal support. We shall thus he enabled to add to its attraction by more 
frequent illustrations, and by engaging competent correspondents on scientific subjects. 
To the country, and especially to the metropolitan press, we beg to express our 
warmest thanks for its appreciation of our efforts, and assure our kind critics that w& 
have a resolute will to merit a continuance of their approbation. 
